What is ‘WE-Fair’ and will it solve Germany’s skilled labour shortages?

The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) launched the WE‑Fair alliance in March with the stated aim of promoting the “fair, orderly and sustainable” recruitment of international skilled workers for Germany.

The initiative was unveiled in Berlin by Development Minister Reem Alabali‑Radovan of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD). The “WE” in the name stands for Wirtschaft und Entwicklung – economy and development – while “Fair” is meant to signal the alliance’s goal of improving recruitment standards for foreign skilled workers.

Germany’s skilled‑labour shortage is well known and persistent. Yet previous efforts to recruit workers from abroad – and persuade workers to stay once they arrive – have produced mixed results.

As The Local has reported, long visa waiting times, complex bureaucracy, workplace integration problems and wider social attitudes have all contributed to skilled workers leaving Germany again.

While WE-Fair is unlikely to make a substantial difference immediately, it does provide evidence that Germany is attempting to take a more sustainable approach to international recruitment. 

So who exactly is involved in the alliance – and how is it supposed to work?

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The WE‑Fair alliance

WE‑Fair is a multi‑stakeholder alliance, rather than a new visa route or an application portal for individual jobseekers.

Its founding members include the German Trade Union Confederation, the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts, alongside companies such as DHL Group, Randstad Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG and Klein GmbH.

The alliance also includes education and language providers, sectoral associations and diaspora organisations, which the BMZ describes as potential “bridge‑builders” in recruitment, preparation and integration processes.

Around 120 representatives from businesses, associations, trade unions and diaspora groups were involved at the official launch. You can find the full list here.

WE‑Fair’s stated goals go beyond simply matching CVs to vacancies. In principle, members commit to shared standards set out in a joint declaration of intent. These include ethical and transparent recruitment, protection against abuse and human smuggling, recognised vocational qualifications and clearer information for prospective migrants about working conditions, wages and requirements.

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The alliance prioritises practical training programmes in countries of origin, supported by language learning and internationally recognised certifications so that skills are usable both in Germany and back home.

In Vietnam, for example, a pilot project involving the company Omexom Hochspannung, the state electricity provider EVN, and the German development agency GIZ aims to train technicians to German standards while also providing language lessons.

If the project develops as planned, up to 200 workers could eventually take up jobs in Germany.

Another pilot has also launched in Kenya, focussed on the hospitality and care sector, while plans for new projects to train nurses, carers and IT specialists in India and the Philippines are reportedly in development.

‘A triple win’

WE‑Fair’s guiding concept is the promise of a “triple win”.

For Germany, the aim is to make international recruitment more reliable and sustainable.

For countries of origin, the goal is to avoid “brain drain” by linking migration to training, knowledge transfer and longer‑term development partnerships.

For workers, the alliance emphasises fair costs, transparent conditions and recognised qualifications.

Placed in context, the scale of WE‑Fair remains limited. The alliance is built around pilot projects and structured partnerships that – at least in their early stages – are expected to involve hundreds rather than tens of thousands of workers.

But neither the BMZ nor participating organisations is presenting WE‑Fair as a programme which will rapid, large‑scale recruitment. On the contrary, this approach appears to reflect a growing recognition among policymakers that fixing the problem of Germany’s labour shortages doesn’t just boil down to setting targets.

Instead, official statements frame the initiative as part of a long-term policy response – less a quick fix and more an attempt to take seriously the needs of employers, of countries of origin and, crucially, of the skilled workers themselves.